Window shutter



Oct. 3, 1950 F. w. BOPP ETAL 2,524,372

WINDOW SHUTTER Filed March ($1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 3, 1950 WINDOW SHUTTER Frederick William Bopp and Edward Otto Bopp, Kansas City, Mo.

Application March 31, 1948, Serial No. 18,186

6 Claims. (Cl. 160-166) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in window shutters or blinds, and has `particular reference to window shutters having a plurality of vertical strips or slats adapted to be oscillated about their longitudinal axes to adjust the light passages therebetween.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a window shutter having aseries of overlapping, vertically disposed strips provided with operating means whereby said strips nia-'y be ycaused to oscillate on their respective'longitudnal axes through an arc of substantially 180 degrecs.

Another object is the provision of a window shutter having a series of parallel shafts carried for longitudinal movement in each of a pair of planar support members disposed respectively at the upper and lower ends of a window, flexible strips carried between correspondingshafts of each series,` and means resiliently urging the shafts at the ends of each strip apart whereby said strip is tensioned, and operating means whereby all of said shafts may be oscillated simultaneously to adjust the light passages therebetween.

A further object is the provision, in a window shutter of the class described having a plurality of vertical flexible strips carried between shafts mounted for longitudinal movement in support members disposed respectively at the upper and l.

lower ends 0f a window, of a pinion carried slidably on each of said shafts at the outer side of said support member, a spring carried on the extended end of said shaft whereby said pinion is urged against said support member and where-` by said shaft is urged outwardly to tension said strip, a rack carried by each of said upper and lower support members and meshing with the pinions carried by said support members, and means whereby said upper and lower racks may be simultaneously moved to oscillate said shafts.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and efficiency of operation, and adaptability for use wherever a shutter for controlling light and air is needed.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specication, reference will be had to the drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a window shutter embodying the present invention,

`mounted on the inside of a window frame.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on 111,16 II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View, partially broken away, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the shutter, partially broken away. f

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line V--V of Fig. 6. i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5. i

Like reference numerals apply to similar `parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a window frame of the usualtype. A pair of mounting brackets 4 are mounted respectively at opposite sides of said window frame on the inner face thereof and adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. Each of said brackets comprises a vertically disposed sheet ofmetal having a flange E at its rearward edge adapted to be secured to window frame 2 by any suitable means such as screws 8, and having its upper and lower edge portions li! rebent inwardly in spaced relation to the body portion of the plate to form channels l2, as best shown in Fig. 8.

An end plate I 4 is adapted to be positioned slidably adjacent the inner surface of bracket 4, the upper and lower edge portions of said end plate being disposed in channels I2 of said bracket. The forwardly extending edge portion of said end plate is turned inwardly to form a flange I6,

and tabs I8 are struck out from the end plate and disposed in parallel spaced apart relation tosaid flanges. A front panel 2i! extends across the window between the end plates lll, the end portions of said panel being inserted slidabljy from above between flange it and tabs i8 of said end plate. The lower end portion 22 of flange I6 is bent rearwardly as shown in Fig. 4 to support front panel 20. Referring to Figs. 4 and 8,it will be seen that each bracket 4 is provided with an inwardly projecting rounded protuberance 24 which is adapted to project into a hole 26 provided therefore in end plate I4 when said end plate has been inserted fully into said bracket, thereby retaining the end plate firmly but remowably in place. Since al1 working parts of the shutter are carried by end plates lli, it is apparent that the entire shutter may be removed from the window simply by withdrawingsaid end plates frombrackets, leaving only `the brackets attached to the window frame. u

Referring principally to the structure :at the top of the window, as shown in Figs. 4 8,` it will be seen that a support bar 2S extends horizontally between end plate i4, said bar being rigidly secured at its ends to flanges 39 struck out from said end plates and having a substantially7 coextensive metallic bearing plate 32 rigidly secured to its upper surface. A series of vertically disposed, horizontally spaced apart shafts 34 are carried for rotational and longitudinal movement by said bearing plate. All of said shafts are identical, and may be economically stamped from sheet metal or other suitable material. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 'l each shaft comprises an axial portion 36, a horizontal transverse arm 33 disposed beneath support bar 2S, and a connecting portion 40. Axial portion 3S of the 'haft is rectangular in cross section, and passes rotatably through a hole 42 formed therefor in support bar 28. Said shaft is reduced in width adjacent the upper surface of said support bar, and extends rotatably through hole 44 formed therefor in bearing plate 32. rThe shoulders 46 formed on the shaft by reducing the width thereof are adapted to contact the lower surfa'ce of the bearing plate and thereby to limit the upward .move ment of the shaft.

A flat pinion 48 is carried slidably on the upwardly extended end of each shaft 34, said shaft extending through a rectangular hole i! formed centrally in said pinion whereby rotation of the pinion on the shaft is prevented. A helical compression spring liZ is disposed about the extended portion of the shaft, bearing at its lower Vend against the upper surface of pinion and at its upper end against a cotter pin 54 inserted transversely through said shaft adjacent its upper end. Said spring urges shaft 34 upwardly and urges pinion 48 against bearing plate 32. An

' elongated rack 55e toothed along both edges is secured slidably to the upper surface of bearing plate 32 by means of screws Sli, which extend through elongated slots lil formed longitudinally in said rack. Said rack extends longitudinally of bearing plate 32 and meshes along one edge with all of pinions 48 associated with said bearing plate.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the structure at the bottom of the window is substantially similar to that at the top of the window, except that bearing plate 32, pinions 48, and rack 5E are disy posed at the lower side of support bar 2B, and

the transverse arm portions 3B of shafts are disposed above said support bar. A plurality of flexible strips 52 having loops 64 are disposed between the upper and lower shafts 34, and are made of fabric or other suitable material. The loop 64 at the upper end of each strip is disposed over arm 38 of an upper shaft 34, and the loop 64 at the lower end of the strip is disposed over arm 38 of the corresponding lower shaft 34. yThe length of said strips is such that upper and lower shafts 34 are pulled toward each other, thereby compressing springs 52 and maintaining the strip under tension. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said strips are wide enough to overlap slightly to effect a complete closure of the window opening when the strips are moved to substantially coplanar relation as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2.

Strips 52 are turned each about its longitudinal axis by means of a mechanism including a squared shaft E55 reaching vertically between upper and lower support bars 28 and having its upper and lower end portions extending rotatably through holes 68 provided therefor through said v support `bars and through bearing plates 32.

A pinion 1) is carried slidably on each of the extended end portions of said shaft, said shaft extending through a squared hole 12 in said pinion to prevent relative rotation. A compression spring 14 is disposed about each extended end portion of said shaft, said spring bearing at one end against the outer face of pinion 'l0 to urge said pinion against bearing plate 32, and at its opposite end against a cotter pin 16 inserted transversely through said shaft adjacent the end thereof. Pinio-ns 10 mesh with racks 56 at the opposite side from pinions 48. Shaft 66 may be manually oscillated by means of a handle 18 carried on said shaft intermediate its ends. Said handle may be pivoted to said shaft at so as to lie against said shaft when not in use, as shown in solid lines in Fig. l, and which may be extended as shown in dotted lines whenever it is desired to adjust the shutter.

Thus when shaft 56 is turned, pinions 10 carried thereby move racks 56, and said racks drive pinions 48 to turn all of shafts 34v simultaneously in the same direction. Strips G2 carried by shaft 34 may thereby be continuously adjusted from a closed, substantially coplanar position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 to a full open position as shown in dotted lines, wherein the strips are substantially normal to the plane of the window. The light and air passages between the strips may thus be regulated at will. The strips may be oscillated through substantially degrecs, thereby turning either side of the strips inwardly. This offers decorative possibilities, since the strips may have opposite sides of contrasting colors, or carry different designs, etc.

It is apparent that a window shutter which is beautiful, durable, easily operable, and efficient has been produced, using a minimum number of parts all of which may be economically mass produced. While a specific embodiment has been disclosed, many minor changes of construction and operation could Vbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A window shutter of the class described including a pair of horizontally disposed planar support members adapted to be carried by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried by each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed flexible strips each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, resilient means urging said upper and lower series of shafts apart to tension said strips, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the extended outer end of each of said shafts, but restrained from rotation relative thereto, said resilient means also urging said pinions against said -support member regardless of the longitudinal movement of said shafts, and means whereby all of said pinions may be simultaneously oscillated in the same direction.

2. A Window shutter of the class described including a pair of horizontally disposed planar support members adapted to be carried'by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried by each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed iiexible strips each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the extended outer 3. A window shutter of the class described inj cluding a pair of horizontally disposed planar support members adapted to be carried by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried by each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed flexible strips each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the extended outer end of each of said shafts but restrained from rotation relative thereto, a helical compression spring carried on the outwardly extended end portion of each of said shafts and bearing against the outer face of said pinion, whereby said shafts are urged outwardly to tension said strips and whereby said pinions are maintained in coplanar relation against the faces of said support members, a rack carried slidably by each of said support members and meshing with each of the pinions carried thereby, and means for simultaneously moving said racks in the same direction to oscillate said shafts.

4. A window shutter of the class described including a pair of horizontally disposed planar f support members adapted to be carried by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried by each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed flexible strips each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the eX- tended outer end of each of said shafts but restrained from rotation relative thereto, resilient means whereby said upper and lower series of shafts are urged apart to tension said strips and whereby said pinions carried by each support member are held against said support member regardless of the longitudinal movement of the associated parts, a geared rack carried slidably by each of said support members in coplanar relation to said pinions and meshing with each of said pinions, a vertical shaft extending rotatably between said upper and lower support members, a pinion carried at each end of said shaft and meshing respectively with said racks, and manual means for oscillating said shaft.

5. A window shutter of the class described including a pair of horizontally disposed planar support members adapted to be carried by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried byv each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed flexible strips each connected Cil U at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the extended outer end of each of said shafts but restrained fro-m rotation relative thereto, resilient means whereby said upper and lower series of shafts are urged apart to tension said strips and whereby said pinions carried by each support member are held against said support member regardless of the longitudinal movement 0f the associated parts, a geared rack carried slidably by each of said support members in coplanar relation to said pinions and meshing with each of said pinions, a squared shaft extending vertically between said upper and lower support members and having `its end portions disposed rotatably in holes formed through said support members, a pinion carried slidably on the extended end portions of said shaft and meshing respectively with said racks, a helical spring carried on each of the extended end portions of said shaft and adapted to urge said last named pinions against said support members in coplanar relation with said racks, and manual means for oscillating said shaft.

6. A window shutter of the class described including a pair of horizontally disposed planar support members adapted to be carried by a window frame respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, like series of vertically disposed shafts carried by each of said support members for oscillatory and longitudinal movement, vertically disposed flexible strips each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said two series of shafts, a geared pinion carried for longitudinal movement on the extended outer end of each of said shafts but restrained from rotation relative thereto, resilient means whereby said upper and lower series of shafts are urged apart to tension said strips and whereby said pinions carried by each support member are held against said support member regardless of the longitudinal movement of the associated parts, a planar rack toothed along both edges carried slidably by each of said support members in coplanar relation to said pinions and meshing along one of its edges with each of said pinions, a vertical shaft extending rotatably between said upper and lower support members, a pinion carried at each end of said shaft and meshing `respectively with the opposite edges of said racks, and manual means for oscillating said shaft.

FREDERICK WILLIAM BOPP. EDWARD OTTO BOPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 541,346 Eckert June 18, 1895 1,185,362 Archard May 30, 1916 1,830,487 Samberg 1 Nov. 3, 1931 2,165,669 Wade J`uly 11, 1939 2,370,794 Houmere Mar. 6, 1945 

